Flavored Oat Milk: Vanilla, Chocolate, and Cinnamon Versions
Three simple flavored oat milk variations - vanilla, chocolate, and cinnamon - each just a small addition to the base recipe before blending.
Once you're comfortable with the base oat milk recipe, building in flavor is a matter of a few small additions blended right in with the oats - no separate flavoring step needed after the fact.
Vanilla Oat Milk
Additions to the base recipe:
- 1 tsp vanilla extract, or the scraped seeds of 1/2 a vanilla bean
- 1 to 2 tbsp maple syrup or a pitted date
Add the vanilla and sweetener along with the oats and water before blending, following the same method as our base oat milk recipe. This version is especially good in coffee, over cereal, or in baking.
Chocolate Oat Milk
Additions to the base recipe:
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp maple syrup or sugar
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
Add the cocoa powder, sweetener, and vanilla along with the oats and water before blending. This version works well on its own as a chocolate milk, or as the base for our hot chocolate recipe in place of plain oat milk plus separate cocoa.
Cinnamon Oat Milk
Additions to the base recipe:
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 to 2 tbsp maple syrup
- Pinch of nutmeg (optional)
Add the cinnamon, sweetener, and nutmeg if using along with the oats and water before blending. This version pairs especially well with overnight oats, echoing the same warm spice notes.
General Notes on Flavoring
Because these additions go directly into the blender along with the oats, they don't require any extra steps beyond the base recipe - just add them before blending and strain as usual. Straining removes any small solid particles (like vanilla bean flecks, if using a whole bean) along with the oat pulp, resulting in a smooth finished milk.
Adjusting Sweetness
All of these versions include a modest amount of sweetener, similar to most store-bought flavored plant milks, but the amount is easy to adjust up or down based on your own preference. For an unsweetened version with the same flavor additions, simply omit the maple syrup, sugar, or date.
Storage
Flavored oat milk follows the same storage guidelines as plain oat milk - refrigerate and use within about 4 to 5 days. See our storage guide for more detail.
These variations are a good way to build more interest into a homemade base without needing separate flavoring steps for every use. For more, see the complete oat milk guide.
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